The Mack Theater rolled its first film in 1939 and showed first run movies until the screen went dark in 1993.

In later years, the auditorium was used as a warehouse, the stage as a small engine repair shop, and the lobby as a dog grooming business. As years passed, these businesses closed and the building fell into disrepair; the façade became tattered and dirty. The Mack Theater building was a sad reminder of our community’s economic status following the downturn of the economy.

In 2013, a small group of friends came together with a dream. We would form a theater group! We would buy the Mack to make it our home and help revitalize our Main Street corridor! We stepped forward with determination, faith, and our naivete. River City Players (RCP) is now a successful community theater group, and we took possession of the Mack on August 18, 2016. But, there is much work left to do.

Donate to Save the Mack!

The building has lead based paint and asbestos containing materials used in the construction and maintenance of the Mack. Our board has worked with consultants to complete, submit, and be awarded a $200,000 Environmental Protection Agency’s Brownfields Cleanup Grant to remove these hazardous materials. When the lead based paint and asbestos containing materials have been safely removed and disposed; we can move on to the repairs and renovation needed to open the entire building to the community.

Words are inadequate to express our appreciation for the community support over the past four years and your help is still needed. The balance owed on the Mack is $28,000, and must be paid over the next 10 years. Tens of thousands of dollars are needed to repair and renovate the Mack to make it the state-of- the-art Performance Venue and Community Center we envision. We will continue to write grant applications, and seek funding from governmental and private foundations. We still need you, the community, to help us to reach the goal of re-opening the Mack.

We are asking for your continued support by attending “Save the Mack” fund raising events, attending our plays, and/or making a financial contribution. A contribution in any amount is helpful and is needed. You may donate using the PayPal module to the left, or you can mail your donation to River City Players, P.O. Box 421, Irvine, KY 40336. Thank you!

Saving the Mack took another step forward this week as local reps attended U.S. Environmental Protection Agency training at the Southeast Brownfields Workshop on the campus of Georgia Tech. The training centered around administering the clean-up grant recently awarded...